Chapter 1 Reborn

"It's on fire! Fire! Hurry and get out of the building!"

Ashley was startled and hurried to her feet. She opened the curtain-flames raged outside, already licking the roof, crackling loudly.

How could it suddenly catch fire? It was fine when I came in.

She didn't have time to think. She turned and ran toward the door.

Fortunately, the fire had started from one side of the shed and hadn't reached the door yet.

She opened it and was about to rush out when something suddenly splashed on her face.

Splash!

It felt slightly cold at first, but in the next second, searing pain struck-her skin felt scorched by flames, and she could even smell the stench of burnt flesh.

"Ah..." The heart-piercing pain made Ashley scream. She covered her face, but her hands were also torn apart-blood and flesh mixed.

"My face... my face..." Ashley groaned in agony.

She was an actress. Though not well-known, her face was her livelihood. And now it was ruined. What could she do?

Ashley stumbled, groping blindly. Even so, she couldn't die here-not in this sea of fire.

But just as she took two steps, someone shoved her hard to the ground.

"Who? Who are you? Why are you doing this to me?" Ashley cried out, her voice hoarse.

"Haha..." A woman laughed proudly. "What a pity. Such a beautiful face, ruined in an instant. Ashley Sanchez, how does it feel?"

Ashley was stunned. "Is it you? Mia Sanchez?! Why? Why are you doing this to me?"

"Because I hate you! I've hated you since the day my father brought you home!" Mia sneered. "Ashley, have you ever wondered why your life has been so miserable?"

"Mia..." The highly corrosive solution seeped into Ashley's eyes and mouth, blinding her and burning her throat. She could only groan out hoarse, broken syllables.

The pain made her curl up into a ball. She tried to rise, but collapsed again.

"Hahaha... That's right. I framed you from beginning to end. You're not worthy of returning to the Sanchez family, and you're not worthy of Quentin!" Mia stomped hard on Ashley's hand, bones crunching. "If you dare to fight me, the only outcome is death! Oh-and Quentin? He's already mine. Hahaha..."

"Ah..." Ashley cried out in agony, her voice growing weaker.

The door to survival was shut tightly in front of her.

She couldn't see anything-only feel the flames dancing around her, scorching everything.

She crawled instinctively toward the door, pounding on it with all her might and screaming, "Help... help... help..."

But the fire raged like a devil's tongue, devouring her whole.

"Hot... it's so hot! Hot...!"

A girl was moaning unconsciously, her body drenched in sweat.

Ashley Sanchez felt like she was submerged in lava. It burned-but strangely, she felt no pain.

She slowly opened her eyes.

A pair of deep, soul-piercing eyes made her tremble.

The next second, a man grabbed her neck, his sexy voice dripping with cold menace. "Tell me, who ordered you?"

Just like his voice, the man's appearance was stunning-heroic features, thin brows, and dark pupils as deep as the sea. He stared right into her soul, making her breath catch.

Who is this man? Why is he so fierce?

Ashley was confused. Memories came rushing back. She clearly remembered being surrounded by flames-burned alive by her sister, Mia Sanchez.

Am I not dead? she thought, dazed but oddly relieved. Or... could it be that I've arrived in the underworld?

Her pale face turned even whiter at the thought.

Ashley looked instinctively behind the man, searching for angel wings-white or black-but found nothing.

"What are you looking for?" the man asked, catching her gaze, voice low and suspicious.

"Angel!"

"What?" He frowned slightly, eyes narrowing. "Who are you? Where did this human come from?"

Human? Ashley heard the word clearly.

The phone rang.

Ashley watched the man stand and pick it up. She was stunned.

iPhone 3.

The man's phone was an iPhone 3.

If she remembered right, that model came out ten years ago. It was practically a museum piece now.

What on earth is going on?

Ashley looked out the window, dazed. The giant floor-to-ceiling glass glowed with light, reflecting a slender figure with a beautiful face.

She gasped and touched her face in disbelief. Her skin was smooth-delicate. Not the ruined, scarred face from before.

She tested the feeling of her body. Then bit her wrist.

"Ouch!" It hurt. It was real.

Could it be... I was reborn?

The kind of plot that only happens in novels and dramas had actually happened to her?

The man's low voice echoed nearby. Ashley grew even more confused.

She looked around-the high-end presidential suite, its gray-black color palette elegant and luxurious. Every detail was exquisite. Anyone who could stay here had to be rich-or powerful.

Memories of her past life came flooding back-lies, betrayal, being drugged.

She had once woken up in an unfamiliar room, fear paralyzing her. She'd heard the sound of running water in the bathroom and fled, terrified.

She hadn't looked back. But in the hotel lobby, she'd been surrounded by a swarm of reporters.

At the time, she wasn't a superstar, but she was rising in the entertainment world. Under the harsh flash of cameras, her clothes were a mess, her hair tangled, her neck full of hickeys. She couldn't face their questions.

That day, her face was splashed across every entertainment page.

The close-up photos became damning evidence of "unspoken rules." The accompanying articles were scathing, accusing her of trading her body for success.

Some tabloids even released a photo of a fat old man, trying to convince the world he was her secret lover.

Fans and the public turned on her, calling her shameless. Her agency was furious. The producer of a drama she was set to star in pulled the plug on her role.

That day, Ashley Sanchez's career collapsed.

Now, lying under the covers, she felt the slight coolness on her skin-and the dull ache in her body.

In other words... she had been reborn to that day.

And the man from last night wasn't a fat old man with a big belly... but this man-with eight-pack abs and stunning looks.

It turned out, she hadn't been taken by a pig. On the contrary, this pig was more than acceptable.

The room suddenly fell quiet. Ashley felt a chill down her spine. She was just about to turn over when a force pinned her to the bed.

"Ah..." Ashley gasped, her eyes flying wide open.